De Kock Breaks Gilchrist's Staggering 'World Cup Record'
De Kock scored his third hundred of the 2023 World Cup [X.Com]
Quinton de Kock edged past Australian legend Adam Gilchrist to achieve an eye-catching World Cup record at the ongoing edition of the marquee tournament in Mumbai.
The veteran South Africa opener produced the highest-ever score made by a wicketkeeper-batter in the 50-over World Cup history, a record held by Gilchrist until Tuesday (October 24).
As the Proteas giant belted the hapless Bangladeshi attack for another valiant century in the competition, he inched past the pioneer of wicketkeeper-batsmanship at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The elegant left-hander made a whopping 174 off 140 deliveries on a hot and humid afternoon in Mumbai.
De Kock surpassed what would've been his idol and an inspirational figure as a wicketkeeper-batter growing up by 25 runs. Gilchrist had famously achieved the landmark to become the highest-scoring wicketkeeper at the World Cup with a blistering knock of 149 in the 2007 final against Sri Lanka in Barbados.
De Kock Surpasses Gilchrist's World Cup record
Gilchrist, who was undergoing a rare dip with the bat leading into the summit clash for the 2007 edition played in the Caribbean, finished off his last World Cup game in spectacular fashion by smashing 13 fours and 8 sixes during his 104-ball stay, taking the rain-marred fixture out of Sri Lanka's grasp.
Following the legend's lead at the top is De Kock in the modern era as he clobbered the Bangladeshi bowling unit for 15 fours and 7 maximums during his 140 balls in the middle, recording an excellent One-Day strike-rate of 124.29.
Just as Gilchrist did, De Kock completely thwarted the opposition and brought them down in submission for a massive win in favour of the mighty South Africans, who are now sitting pretty at the second spot in the points table with four wins and a solitary defeat.
Notably, De Kock also became the first South African to record three centuries at a single edition of the men's World Cup. The explosive top-order batter had earlier blasted knocks of 100 off 84 versus Sri Lanka in Delhi and 109 off 106 against Australia in Lucknow.
The 30-year-old is now the highest run-getter of the tournament with 407 runs made in just five innings, taking a lead over legend Virat Kohli, who has made 354 runs in his five matches of the World Cup campaign so far.
 "Kashish Chadha")
